Le cancer du sein triple négatif (CSTN) est un sous-type de cancer du sein très agressif et dépourvu de surexpression des récepteurs hormonaux et de HER2. Les tumeurs mutantes BRCA1 et BRCA2 constituent 15 à 20% des CSTN et récemment un groupe d’agent thérapeutique ciblé prometteur a vu le jour pour ce type de cancers. En effet, les inhibiteurs de PARP (PARPi) ont démontré une amélioration de la survie sans maladie à distance chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein précoce avec mutation BRCA1/2 HER2 négatif, suggérant que les PARPis peuvent éliminer la maladie micrométastatique. Cependant, des réponses plus durables seront probablement obtenues si les PARPis sont utilisés en combinaison, comme avec un autre agent endommageant l'ADN tout comme le carboplatine. De plus, il est plausible que l'efficacité puisse être améliorée et la toxicité diminuée si un PARPi puissant comme le talazoparib est administré en utilisant une approche séquentielle. Ici, nous avons évalué l'impact des stratégies de dosage concomitantes et séquentielles dans des lignées cellulaires du CSTN et trois modèles de souris de xénogreffe orthotopique. Alors que la combinaison simultanée ou séquentielle ont inhibé les volumes tumoraux primaires de la même manière, la combinaison séquentielle a diminué la migration, l'invasion, les métastases à distance et a été associée à moins de toxicité. Par conséquent, ces combinaisons du talazoparib et du carboplatine devraient être considérées dans les futurs essais cliniques comme une approche efficace pour inhiber la maladie micrométastatique et potentiellement diminuer l'utilisation de la chimiothérapie chez ces patients. / The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a very aggressive breast cancer subtype that lacks overexpression of hormone receptors and HER2. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutant tumors constitute 15-20% of TNBC and recently, a family of promising targeted therapeutic agents has emerged for this type of cancer. Indeed, PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have been shown to improve distant disease-free survival in patients with HER2-negative BRCA1/2 mutation early breast cancer, suggesting that PARPis can eliminate micrometastatic disease. However, durable responses are likely to be obtained if PARPis are used in combination, such as with another DNA damaging agent like carboplatin. Additionally, it is plausible that efficacy may be enhanced and toxicity decreased if a potent PARPi such as talazoparib is administered using a sequential approach. Here, we evaluated the impact of the concomitant and sequential dosing strategies in TNBC cell lines and three orthotopic xenograft mouse models. While the simultaneous or sequential combination inhibited primary tumor volumes to a similar extent, the sequential combination decreased migration, invasion, distant metastasis, and was associated with less toxicity. Therefore, the sequential combination of talazoparib and carboplatin should be considered in future clinical trials as an effective approach to inhibit micrometastatic disease and potentially decrease the use of chemotherapy in these patients.

[ES] El curso natural de los tumores va acompañado de la acumulación progresiva de alteraciones genómicas, propiciando una cadena de eventos que resultan en inestabilidad genómica (IG). Éste fenómeno, caracterizado por alteraciones en el número de copias, constituye un hallmark genómico con impacto pronóstico más allá de la histología y otras características moleculares del tumor. En el ámbito de la investigación en oncología ginecológica, la IG ha ganado fuerza en los últimos años, permitiendo la estratificación de pacientes de acuerdo al pronóstico y la respuesta a agentes que dañan el ADN, como las terapias basadas en platinos y los inhibidores de PARP. En el cáncer de ovario, en particular, se ha descrito un subgrupo molecular caracterizado por alta incidencia de alteraciones en el número de copias relacionado con un mejor pronóstico y respuesta a quimioterapia. Esta correlación presenta la IG como un buen marcador predictivo y pronóstico. Así, un modelo basado en la IG trasladable a la práctica clínica constituirá una herramienta útil para la optimización de la toma de decisiones. La era de la medicina personalizada llegó de la mano de los estudios integrativos, donde las técnicas de alto rendimiento se aplican de manera combinada para obtener una visión molecular global de los tumores, completando y complementando la caracterización clásica a nivel anatómico e histológico. Esta tesis propone un estudio global de la IG como biomarcador pronóstico y predictivo de respuesta en cáncer ginecológico, haciendo hincapié en el cáncer de ovario seroso de alto grado y cáncer de endometrio. A través de la aplicación de estrategias basadas en NGS con la adaptación de pipelines de análisis disponibles obtuvimos los perfiles de IG de muestras de tejido fijadas en formol y embebidas en parafina, de una manera fiable, portable y coste efectiva, combinando herramientas de machine learning para ajustar modelos predictivos y pronósticos. Partiendo de esta premisa, ajustamos y validamos, en cohortes clínicas bien caracterizadas, tres modelos a partir de los datos ómicos individuales y un modelo integrativo (Scarface Score) que demostró la capacidad de predecir la respuesta a agentes que dañan el ADN en un escenario clínico concreto de pacientes con cáncer de ovario seroso de alto grado. Paralelamente, desarrollamos y validamos un algoritmo basado en el perfil de mutaciones, con impacto pronóstico, en cáncer de endometrio. Este algoritmo consiguió una estratificación que respondía al perfil de IG de los pacientes. Finalmente, se caracterizó un panel de líneas celulares de cáncer de ovario a nivel de respuesta, genético y genómico. Se interrogó el estatus de la vía de recombinación homóloga y su asociación a patrones de IG, completando el perfil molecular y estableciendo las bases para futuros estudios preclínicos y clínicos. Los resultados obtenidos en esta tesis doctoral presentan herramientas de gran valor para el manejo clínico en cuanto a la búsqueda de una medicina personalizada. Adicionalmente, diferentes estudios para trasladar el modelo predictivo a otros escenarios clínicos pueden ser explorados, usando como base el planteado, pero restableciendo puntos de corte nuevos y específicos. / [CA] El curs natural dels tumors va acompanyat de l'acumulació progressiva d'alteracions genòmiques, propiciant una cadena d'esdeveniments que resulten en inestabilitat genòmica (IG). Aquest fenomen, caracteritzat per la presencia de alteracions en el nombre de cópies, constitueix un hallmark genòmic amb impacte pronòstic més enllà de la histologia i altres característiques moleculars del tumor. En l'àmbit de la recerca en oncologia ginecològica, la IG ha guanyat força en els últims anys, permetent l'estratificació de pacients d'acord amb el pronòstic i la resposta d'agents que danyen l'ADN, com les teràpies basades en platins i els inhibidors de PARP. En el càncer d'ovari en particular, s'ha descrit un subgrup molecular caracteritzat per una alta incidència d'alteracions en el nombre de còpies relacionat amb un millor pronòstic i resposta a quimioteràpia. Aquesta correlació presenta la IG com un marcador predictiu i pronòstic adeqüat. Així, un model basat en la IG traslladable a la pràctica clínica constituirà una eina útil per a l'optimització de la presa de decisions. L'era de la medicina personalitzada va arribar de la mà dels estudis integratius, on les tècniques d'alt rendiment s'apliquen de manera combinada per a obtenir una visió molecular global dels tumors, completant i complementant la caracterització clàssica a nivell anatòmic i histològic. Aquesta tesi proposa un estudi global de la IG com a biomarcador pronòstic i predictiu de resposta en càncer ginecològic, posant l'accent en el càncer d'ovari serós d'alt grau i càncer d'endometri. A través de la aplicación d'estratègies basades en NGS amb l'adaptació de pipelines d'anàlisis disponibles, vam obtenir els perfils de IG de mostres de teixit fixades en formol i embegudes en parafina d'una manera fiable, portable i cost efectiva, combinant eines de machine learning per a ajustar models predictius i pronòstics. Partint d'aquesta premissa, vam ajustar i validar, en cohortes clíniques ben caracteritzades, tres models a partir de les dades omiques individuals i un model integratiu (Scarface Score) que va demostrar la capacitat de predir la resposta a agents que danyen l'ADN en un escenari clínic concret de pacients amb càncer d'ovari serós d'alt grau. Paral·lelament, desenvoluparem i validarem un algoritme basat en el perfil de mutacions amb impacte pronòstic en càncer d'endometri. Aquest algoritme va aconseguir una estratificació que responia al perfil de IG dels pacients. Finalment, es va caracteritzar un panell de línies cel·lulars de càncer d'ovari a nivell de resposta, genètic i genòmic. Es varen interrogar l'estatus de la via de recombinació homòloga i la seua associació a patrons de IG, completant el perfil molecular i establint les bases per a futurs estudis preclínics i clínics. Els resultats obtinguts en aquesta tesi doctoral presenten eines de gran valor per al maneig clínic en quant a la cerca d'una medicina personalitzada. Addicionalment, diferents estudis per a traslladar el model predictiu a altres escenaris clínics poden ser plantejats, usant com a base el propost però restablint punts de tall nous i específics. / [EN] The natural course of tumors matches the progressive accumulation of genomic alterations, triggering a cascade of events that results in genomic instability (GI). This phenomenon includes copy number alterations and constitutes a genomic hallmark that defines specific outcomes beyond histology and other molecular features of the tumor. In the context of gynaecologic oncology research, GI has gained strength in the last years allowing the stratification of patients according to prognosis and response to certain DNA-damaging agents, such as platinum-based therapies and PARP inhibitors. Particularly in ovarian and endometrial cancers, it has been described a molecular subgroup characterized by high copy number alterations (CNA) related to good prognosis and better response to chemotherapy. This relationship highlights GI as a predictive and prognostic biomarker. Hence, a GI-based model translated into clinical practice would constitute a tool for optimizing clinical decision-making. The era of personalised medicine arrived together with the coming of integrative studies, where results of high-throughput techniques are combined to obtain a comprehensive molecular landscape of the diseases, bringing a new paradigm to characterize the tumors beyond classical anatomic and histological characteristics. This thesis proposes a global study of the phenomenon of GI as a prognostic and predictive biomarker of treatment response in gynaecological cancers, mainly focused on high-grade ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Through the development of an NGS-based strategy with the adaptation of available pipelines of analysis, we obtained GI profiles on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples in a reliable, portable, and cost-effective approach, with the combination of Machine Learning tools to fit prognostic and predictive models based on the integration of omic data. Based on that premise, we fit and validated, in well-characterized clinical cohorts, three single-source models and an integrative ensemble model (Scarface Score) that proved to be able to predict response to DNA-damaging agents in a clinical scenario of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. In addition, a mutational-based algorithm (12g algorithm) with prognostic impact was developed and validated for endometrial cancer patients. This algorithm achieved a GI-based stratification of patients. Finally, a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines was characterized at the response, genetic and genomic level, interrogating homologous recombination repair pathway status and its associated GI profiles, completing the molecular landscape, and establishing the basis and breeding ground of future preclinical and clinical studies. The results reported in this Doctoral Thesis provide valuable clinical management tools in the accomplishment of a reliable tailored therapy. Additionally, future studies in different tumor types and drugs for implementation of the predictive model can be planned, using as a base the defined one but re-establishing new and specific cut-offs. / The present doctoral thesis was partially funded by GVA Grants “Subvencions per a la realització de projectes d’i+d+i desenvolupats per grups d’investigació emergents (GV/2020/158)” and “Ayudas para la contratación de personal investigador en formación de carácter predoctoral” (ACIF/2016/008), “Beca de investigación traslacional Andrés Poveda 2020” from GEICO group and Phase II clinical trial (POLA: NCT02684318, EudraCT 2015-001141-08, 03.10.2015). This study was awarded the Prize “Antonio Llombart Rodriguez-FINCIVO 2020” from the Royal Academy of Medicine of the Valencian Community / López Reig, R. (2023). Genomic instability as a predictive biomarker for the application of DNA-damaging therapies in gynecological cancer patients [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/199026

No description available.

Dans le cadre des recherches menées au sein du laboratoire de Physiologie Animale le gène codant pour la nicotinamide phosphorybosyltransférase (NAmPT) à été identifié et cloné. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons étudié le rôle de cette enzyme du métabolisme du Nicotinamide Adénine Dinucléotide ainsi que celui des enzymes dépendantes du NAD (PARP et sirtuines) dans le contrôle de la réponse inflammatoire. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Over 16 million people in the US suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD) each year. Approximately 1/3rd of MDD patients (~5 million) obtain only partial remission or no benefit after trials with multiple drugs or drug combinations. Recently, Ordway and colleagues have reportedelevated levels of DNA oxidation and upregulated gene expression of the base excision repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) in postmortem brain from donors who had MDD at the time of death, as compared to age-matched psychiatrically normal control donors. This study was designed to test whether an inhibitor of PARP, 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), may be effective to alleviate depressive-like behaviors in a rodent model of treatment-resistant depression. Male rats were ip administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS;100ug/kg) daily for 28 days, and administered a chronic unpredictable stressor on each day. All rats were also administered saline, 3-AB (40 mg/kg), or the serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine (trade name: Prozac; 10 mg/kg) on each day, approximately 30 min after LPS treatment. During the 28 day period of LPS treatment, animals were behaviorally tested 5 times on sucrose preference (a test of anhedonia). At the end of the 28 day period, rats were behaviorally tested on a test of acute stress, the Porsolt swim test. Results revealed that 3-AB alleviated anhedonia and the response to acute stress in the Porsolt swim test superior to the fluoxetine group, demonstrating the utility of a PARP inhibitor to alleviate depressive-like behavior in this model. In addition, fluoxetine produced a loss of weight which recovered over days, but not to control levels, and 3-AB did not produce this effect. This study shows that PARP inhibitors may be effective in treatment-resistant depression.

no / Flavonoids, of which flavones are a sub-group, are plant secondary metabolites found in a variety of natural food sources (e.g., vegetables) and wines. They elicit beneficial roles in health and disease through their antioxidant activity, but some of them have also now been found to exert specific effects on cell signalling. We recently showed that methoxylation of the flavone structure at the 4ʹ position, or additionally at the 3ʹ position, to produce 4ʹ-methoxyflavone (4MF) and 3ʹ,4ʹ-dimethoxyflavone (DMF), respectively, significantly enhanced activity against the cell death (“parthanatos”) mediated by poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). We report here our attempt to correlate the antioxidant and parthanatos-inhibitory activities of these methoxylated flavones with those of the hydroxylated flavonoids. Cultures of HeLa and HaCaT cells were exposed to MNNG (50µM, up to 25min), which induces parthanatos, and the oxidant hydrogen peroxide (100µM – 2mM, up to 24h). The effects (up to 20µM) of the methoxylated flavones 4MF and DMF, the hydroxylated flavone luteolin (LN), and the non-flavone flavonoids quercetin (QE), naringin (NG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the reduction in viability (indicative of cell death) and morphological changes induced by MNNG or peroxide were then investigated. Both alamar blue and MTT assays were used to quantify viability. MNNG induced significant reduction in cell viability, which was not affected by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk but significantly blocked by DPQ, a PARP-1 inhibitor, consistent with the biochemical profile of parthanatos. Hydrogen peroxide also elicited a significant decrease in cell viability, with partial or no protection afforded by either Z-VAD-fmk or DPQ (dependent on peroxide concentration and treatment duration). 4MF and DMF demonstrated significant protection against MNNG-induced cell death but LN, QE, NG and EGCG showed little or no protection. On the other hand, 4MF and DMF elicited mostly negligible effects against hydrogen peroxide, whereas LN, QE, NG and EGCG elicited various levels of protection against it. We conclude that methoxylation at the 4ʹ or 3ʹ, 4ʹ positions of flavones favours anti-parthanatos but not antioxidant activity, whereas hydroxylation enhances antioxidant but not anti-parthanatos activity. / Abstract of conference paper.

Poly-(ADP-ribsoyl) Polymerases (PARPs) are a superfamily of enzymes comprised of 17 known isoforms. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have shown success in clinical trials for the treatment of homologous recombination-deficient cancers. Though proven effective initially, tumors treated with PARPi eventually develop resistance. Combinatorial therapeutics targeting PARP and other pathways that may re-sensitize tumors to PARP inhibition, including PI3K/AKT/mTor pathway, and cell-cycle checkpoints (such as CDKs, CHK, and Wee) are being tested. In this context, the synthetic lethality of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and PARP1 is known. Evaluation of PARP1 and CDK1 pharmacophores led to the development of the tetrahydro-arylazepinone (TAAP) scaffold as a potential dual PARP1/CDK1 inhibitor. We screened a handful of TAAP analogs against PARP1 in a cell-free assay that identified the low micromolar PARP1 inhibitor 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[e][1,4]-diazepin-5-one (TBAP), which served as the lead compound. The analogous 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-pyrido[2,3-e][1,4]-diazepin-5-one (TPAP) series showed a similar bioactivity profile. Satisfyingly, the N1-benzyl TPAP analogue showed activity in the low nanomolar range. The TAAP series (i.e., 6/7-membered scaffold) unfortunately lacked CDK1 inhibitory activity. Finally, many PARPi's show poor isoform-selectivity. The development of isoform-selective PARPi can clarify the specific function of each PARP isoform and may reduce the adverse side effects shown by PARPi. A handful of TAAP analogs were screened against 13 PARP isoforms, where some compounds demonstrated exquisite PARP1/2 selectivity. Concurrently, we discovered an inhibitor for PARP11, an isoform that lacks any known synthetic ligand. Future directions are suggested towards fine-tuning the structure-activity relationship of TAAP-isoform selective PARPi as well as developing a dual PARP1/CDK1 inhibitor. / Master of Science

En France, le cancer de sein héréditaire représente environ 2500 nouveaux cas par an, dont prés de la moitié est attribuée à la mutation du gène BRCA1.La recherche de la mutation par biologie moléculaire est un travail fastidieux, coûteux et long (8 mois d’attente environ actuellement).Pour trouver une solution à ce délai, nous avons étudié en immunohistochimie une série initiale de 21 anticorps répartis en 5 groupes : anticorps antiBrca1 du commerce, liés à la perte de l’inactivation de l’X, liés à la signature basale ou myoépithéliale, anticorps dits classiques du cancer de sein et finalement dérivés de signatures établies par cDNAarray.Nous avons utilisé la technique de’ tissue microarrays’ en utilisant de manière comparative une population de 27 cas de cancer de sein présentant une mutation germinale de BRCA1, et 81 cas témoins de cancer de sein sporadiques appariés à l’âge, ainsi qu’à des lignées cellulaires d’origine mammaires. Dans une deuxième série indépendante de validation nous avons appliqué les résultats obtenus de la première série sur 28 cas de cancer mammaire muté, et 28 cas du cancer mammaire sporadique dans les mêmes conditions initiales.Nos résultats montrent pour la première fois sur des tissus tumoraux une probabilité forte d’une association entre la mutation Brca1 et la perte de l’inactivation de l’X ; confirment la valeur de MS110 comme un bon anticorps prédictif d’une mutation de Brca1 ; apportent un argument pour une participation myoépithéliale dans l’oncogenèse de cancer mammaire Brca1 muté; appuient la relation entre ce dernier et les récepteurs RE,RP ainsi que P53 , Bcl2,Ki67 et valident en protéomique la valeur discriminant de CDC47 correspondant à un des gènes de la signature génomique.Après confirmation des mêmes résultats dans la série de validation, nous soutenons en analyses multivariés un modèle qui comprend seulement Grade 3, MS110, Lys27H3 négative, Vimentine et KI67 positive. Cette équation correspond à une sensibilité de 82% et spécificité de 81% et propose une approche rapide économique de pré- ciblage de la mutation Brca1 ; ce qui améliorait la prise en charge préventive, thérapeutique et globale des patients et leurs familles. / Family structure, lack of reliable information, cost and delay are usual concerns faced with when deciding to perform BRCA analyses. Testing the breast cancer tissues with four antibodies (MS110, lys27H3, Vimentin, KI67) in addition to grade evaluation enabled to rapidly select patients to carry out genetic testing identification. We constituted an initial breast cancer tissue micro-array, considered as a learning set comprising 27 BRCA1 and 81 sporadic tumours. A second independent validation set of 28 BRCA1 tumours was matched to 28 sporadic tumours using the same original conditions.We have investigated morphological parameters and 21 markers by immunohistochemistry.A logistic regression model was used to select the minimal number of markers providing the best model to predict BRCA1 status. The model was applied to the validation set to estimate specificity and sensibility.In the initial set, the univariate analysis identified 11 markers significantly associated with BRCA1 status. Then the best multivariate model comprised only Grade 3, MS110, Lys27H3, Vimentin and KI67. When applied to the validation set, BRCA1 tumours were correctly classified with a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 81%. The performance of this model was superior when compared to other profiles.This work offers a new rapid and economic method for the pre-screening of patients at high risk of being BRCA1mutation carriers, then to guide genetic testing, and finally to provide appropriate preventive measure, advices and treatments including targeted therapy to patients and their families.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is initiated when the ligand binds to type II and type I serine/threonine kinase receptors at the cell surface. Activated TGF-β type I receptors phosphorylate R-Smads which relocate, together with co-Smads, to the cell nucleus and regulate transcription. Enhancement or repression of Smad-specific gene targets leads to intracellular protein compositions which organize functional complexes and thus govern cellular processes such as proliferation, migration and differentiation. TGF-β/Smad signaling relays are regulated by various post-translational modifications. From receptors to gene promoters, intricate interplays between phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination and numerous other modifications, control Smad signaling initiation and duration. However, many steps in the cascade, including receptor internalization, Smad nuclear shuttling and transcriptional termination, still remain elusive. The open gaps in our understanding of these mechanisms most likely involve additional post-translational regulations. Thus, the aim of the present investigation was to identify novel modulators of TGF-β/Smad signaling. In the first part of this thesis, we show the importance of ADP-ribosylation in Smad-mediated transcription. We identified poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) as a Smad interacting protein. Our work revealed that PARP-1 forms direct interactions with Smad3/4, and PARylates residues in their MH1 domains. This modification restricts Smads from binding to DNA and attenuates Smad-activated transcription. PARylation is reversed by the glycohydrolase PARG. We provide evidence that PARG can de-ADP-ribosylate Smads, which enhances Smad-promoted gene regulation. In the second part, we examine a Smad-dependent gene target of TGF-β signaling, salt inducible kinase 1 (SIK). After induction, SIK cooperates with Smad7 and Smurf2 to downregulate the TGF-β type I receptor. The mechanism relies on both the kinase and UBA domain of SIK as well as the E3-ligase activity of Smurf2. In summary, we have unveiled two enzyme-dependent TGF-β/Smad modulatory mechanisms; SIK promoted receptor turnover and PARP-1/PARG-regulated Smad signaling.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, a covalent modification of proteins catalyzed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs), plays a crucial role in regulating DNA repair, DNA replication, and cell death. Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear zinc-finger DNA-binding protein that is the most extensively studied member of the PARP family. The activation of PARP-1 depends on the N-terminal DNA-binding domain, which consists of two unusually long zinc finger-like motifs (termed FI and FII) of the form CX₂CX₂₈/₃₀HX₂C and a newly discovered zinc-ribbon motif (FIII). Though zinc is indispensible for PARP-1 activity, the metal binding affinities of the unusual zinc fingers of PARP-1 is not yet known. In this dissertation, the second zinc finger of PARP-1 was used as a model peptide to study the binding properties of several divalent metal ions (Co²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Pb²⁺). Metal-induced protein folding was investigated by circular dichroism, and the effects of the metal ions on PARP-1 activity were investigated by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation activity assays. This study represents the first detailed biochemical characterization of the PARP zinc fingers. The functional role of each zinc finger in DNA damage recognition is critical for understanding how PARP-1 is involved in DNA repair. Thus, we constructed a series of PARP-1 zinc finger variant proteins and investigated their DNA binding properties and their effects on PARP activity. Using a combination of southwestern blotting and activity assays, we demonstrated that FII is more important for DNA binding, while FI and FIII seem to facilitate PARP activity. The DNA sequence-independent binding properties of PARP-1 were further characterized using DNA probes bearing defined secondary structures. Together, our results indicate that the zinc fingers help position the enzyme at specific DNA damage sites, and also help to activate the catalytic domain upon DNA binding. PARP-1 is involved in caspase-independent apoptosis, and the translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) out of the mitochondrial matrix has been shown to require PARP-1 activity. However, it is not readily apparent how the catalytic activity of PARP-1 (a nuclear protein) triggers the release of AIF from the mitochondrial matrix. In an attempt to understand the relationship between PARP-1 activity and caspase-independent apoptosis, we demonstrate here that AIF is an in vitro protein substrate for PARP-1. The possible implications of this finding will be discussed. / text